Crossword clues for skepticism
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Skepticism \Skep"ti*cism\, n. [Cf. F. scepticisme.] [Written also scepticism.]
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An undecided, inquiring state of mind; doubt; uncertainty.
That momentary amazement, and irresolution, and confusion, which is the result of skepticism.
--Hune. (Metaph.) The doctrine that no fact or principle can be certainly known; the tenet that all knowledge is uncertain; Pyrrohonism; universal doubt; the position that no fact or truth, however worthy of confidence, can be established on philosophical grounds; critical investigation or inquiry, as opposed to the positive assumption or assertion of certain principles.
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(Theol.) A doubting of the truth of revelation, or a denial of the divine origin of the Christian religion, or of the being, perfections, or truth of God.
Let no . . . secret skepticism lead any one to doubt whether this blessed prospect will be realized.
--S. Miller.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context US English) The practice or philosophy of being a skeptic. 2 (context US English) A study attitude of questioning and doubt 3 (context US English) The doctrine that absolute knowledge is not possible 4 (context US English) A methodology that starts from a neutral standpoint and aims to acquire certainty though scientific or logical observation. 5 (context US English) Doubt or disbelief of religious doctrines n. 1 (context US English) The practice or philosophy of being a skeptic. 2 (context US English) A study attitude of questioning and doubt 3 (context US English) The doctrine that absolute knowledge is not possible 4 (context US English) A methodology that starts from a neutral standpoint and aims to acquire certainty though scientific or logical observation. 5 (context US English) Doubt or disbelief of religious doctrines
WordNet
n. doubt about the truth of something [syn: incredulity, disbelief, mental rejection]
the disbelief in any claims of ultimate knowledge [syn: agnosticism, scepticism]
Wikipedia
Skepticism or scepticism (see spelling differences) is generally any questioning attitude or doubt towards one or more items of putative knowledge or belief. It is often directed at domains, such as morality (moral skepticism), religion (skepticism about the existence of God), or the nature of knowledge (skepticism of knowledge). Formally, skepticism as a topic arises in the context of philosophy, particularly epistemology, although it has also found its way into popular-level social and political issues like climate science, religion, pseudoscience.
Philosophical skepticism is a systematic approach that questions the notion that absolutely certain knowledge is possible. Classical philosophical skepticism derives from the 'Skeptikoi', a school who "asserted nothing". Adherents of Pyrrhonism (and more recently, partially synonymous with Fallibilism), for instance, suspend judgment in investigations. Skeptics may even doubt the reliability of their own senses. Religious skepticism, on the other hand, is "doubt concerning basic religious principles (such as immortality, providence, and revelation)". Scientific skepticism is about testing beliefs for reliability, by subjecting them to systematic investigation using the scientific method, to discover empirical evidence for them.
Skepticism is a funeral doom metal band from Finland. Formed in 1991, they are regarded as one of the pioneers of the genre.
Usage examples of "skepticism".
Milton, the child apostate, would have been confirmed in his skepticism, because his spirit never returned that day, trying to get past me.
Hearty guffaws accompanied his statement, attesting to the skepticism of his brothers, who commenced to argue among themselves.
Prestcott was all the proof I could ever need to persuade me to put aside skepticism forever, for no human form would be capable of the violent bestiality I saw in that room.
But as you can tell by how sneaky he looks in this photograph, and by the skepticism in my professional announcer voice, Bob Humpty is not telling the truth.
Being also skeptical, his skepticism sometimes overcolours his imagination.
The author will then describe the impulse imparted by the Spiritualistic Philosophy, and the opposition it met with in Materialism, Pantheism, and Skepticism.
John was torn between reverence for Jesus, due to events at Bethabara, and genuine skepticism, due to what he now knew of his background.
The miracle at Cana was too fresh in his memory to allow strong skepticism toward the Nazarene.
The outcry from European capitals led the administration to temper its position, but Bush had never lost his skepticism about peacekeeping in the Balkans.
Even though the magical name of Gaius Marius was also being bruited about, the innate conservatism of countryfolk tended toward skepticism of his fitness to command in this new war.
Presiding at the table, Dolley could see wary skepticism give way to a frank, if grudging, appreciation.
Brown-Sequard as Valuable remedial agents, we regarded the use of these extracts with good deal of skepticism, but experience is, after all, the best teacher and we were forced, after numerous successful tests, to admit their great efficacy.
As the Secret Service swung into anti-hacker operation nationwide in 1990, Kapor watched every move with deep skepticism and growing alarm.
In fact they grilled Jilly as if they believed a chador and a submachine gun were concealed under the car seat, and they studied Fred with wariness and skepticism, as though convinced that he was of Mideastern origin, held fanatical political views, and harbored evil intentions.
The fathers and the mothers looked at their children with mingled sensations, in which the skepticism of parents toward their children and the habitual sense of the superiority of elders over youth blended strangely with the feeling of sheer respect for them, with the persistent melancholy thought that life had now become dull, and with the curiosity aroused by the young men who so bravely and fearlessly spoke of the possibility of a new life, which the elders did not comprehend but which seemed to promise something good.